Mountain West Football Top 50: No. 30, Air Force QB Arion Worthman

If the Falcons fly high in 2017, Worthman will lead the way.

Where 2016 might go down in Mountain West football lore as the Year of the Running Back, 2017 is looking more and more like the Year of the Quarterback, and the next entrant on our countdown of the conference’s 50 best players is certainly a part of that conversation.

Arion Worthman took over as Air Force’s starting quarterback in the second half of last season, following an injury to Nate Romine, and he never looked back. The Falcons ended 2016 on a six-game winning streak, during which Worthman ran for 716 yards (excluding sack yardage) and threw for 546 yards.

On the ground, Worthman averaged 5.8 yards per carry; through the air, he completed 59% of his passes and averaged 14 yards per attempt. He also accounted for 16 total touchdowns — ten through the air and six on the ground — and should keep the Falcons in the mix for the Mountain division title this fall.